Rishe wasnt a competitive person. She knew that there were many great people in the world and that she couldnt compare to.

However, there was only one person that she sometimes felt a bit of rivalry with, Arnold the man she absolutely was unable to beat.

That was the case one day.

During a chat, the topic of Arnolds sword came up, and Rishe asked to borrow it.

She didnt unsheath it but just held it in the courtyard and gave him her honest opinion.

Your Highnesss sword is a bit difficult for me to handle

She looked down while returning the sword, and Arnold replied while receiving it.

Thats only right. We have differences in strength and hand size in the first place.

M I dont deny muscle strength, but my hands are relatively large, right?

The hand size didnt determine anything, but Rishe somehow felt like arguing.

When I was at school, mine was bigger than other girls.

As she spoke, she raised her right hand to her chest level and turned her palm toward Arnold.

She then met his gaze, and after a moment, Arnold raised an eyebrow.

Whats with that waiting look?

Im waiting for Your Highness to do the same.

Why?

Because I want to compare our hand sizes

As she explained, the wrinkles between his eyebrows dipped deeper and deeper.

I dont think we need to compare.

That may be true. But dont you want to prove it in the end?

Arnold sighed, but eventually did the same as Rishe with his black gloved hand.

Thank you, Your Highness.

All right, get on with it.

Rishe immediately touched his hand and aligned their wrists first.

The fingertips of her right hand didnt even reach the first joint of Arnolds fingers.

Theyre incomparable

I can see that.

But I didnt realize how different they were until we put them together.

Even Rishe knew that Arnolds hand was big. However, she realized it again in this way.

How should I put it?

Rishe examined their hands, palms overlapping, and said.

Its a mans hand, isnt it?

Silence filled the courtyard.

She found herself talking about the obvious and felt somewhat embarrassed.

She averted her gaze, but their hands remained in place.

Oh, well, its not that I havent thought so before. My hand seems completely hidden, um

Hmm.

!!

Arnold bent his fingers loosely.

Arnold wrapped his hand around her weak, unprotected hand, and she looked up at him in amazement.

I see.

Arnold remarked with a pretty irritating smile and provocative look.

A womans hand, eh?

!!

At that moment, her cheeks instantly burned.

Perhaps

Wrapped in each others hands was perhaps embarrassing to both of them.

When Rishe hurriedly untangled her hand, Arnold snorted with that same irritating look. She knew he was making fun of her, but she couldnt complain because she started it.

If you want a sword, let me make you one that suits you. You dont have to force yourself to handle the same sword as that of a man.

Okay.

Arnold returned to the main topic and started walking, so Rishe followed him and stepped out of the courtyard.

He touched her through his gloves, but it felt scorching hot.

She wondered about it and looked at her right hand again.